Hand tool for agricultural implements



Nov. 7, 1950 e. COPEMAN 2,528,947

HAND TOOL FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Filed Aug. 15, 1947 INVENTOR. ZLoyo G COPE/WAN ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1950 HAND TOOL FOR'AGRICUILTURAL IMPLEMENTS Lloyd G. Copeman, Metamora, Mich., assignor to Copeman Laboratories Company,

a corporation of Michigan rum, Mich.,

' Application August 15, 1947; Serial No. 768,794

1 i l *This invention relates to a hand toolfor agricultural implements. Y 91 .-It*is customary to provide agricultural or industrial tractors with a draw-bar having one or more-holes through which a clevis pin may be inserted after the clevis or other bifurcated mem I berof an implement tongue has been lined up in registry with the holesin the draw-bar. The use of this type of hitch entails considerable difficulty inattaching an implement to a tractor. necessitating frequent. stops and start of the tractor to line up and properly position the tractor relative to the implement tongue. It is, furthermore, necessary for the operator to get down oif the tractor seat one or moretimes in order to effect the'hitch. Where the implement is heavy and is on rough ground, it is frequently impossible for the operator to. move the implement at all and so the tractor must be positioned rather exactly before the clevis pin-can be inserted. This usually necessitatesvmany trial and error attempts before the tractor is properly positioned for a hitch to be effected.

It is an object of the present invention to pro- I vide a hand tool which will enable-an implement tongue to be manually lifted from the ground by a tractor operator while remaining in the tractor seat. It is a further object toprovide a tool which will hold the implement tongue suspended to line up in the proper horizontal plane with th'eLdraw-bar while permitting the operator to move the tractor forward or backwardly as required to properly lineup the holes in the tongue and draw-bar.

The invention, furthermore, aims to provide a tool having additional means enabling the tongue to be shifted laterally on the draw-bar for aiding in lining up the tongue holes with the draw-bar holes.

Another feature of the invention relates to an improved handle device for enabling the coupling pin to be inserted by the operator without leaving his seat. v

Further objects of the invention will be apparent by reference to the following description and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved hand tool showing its use in effectin a tractor implement coupling operation.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same tool showing a second stage of its use.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated a tractor 10 having an arcuate draw-bar 5 Claims. (01. 254-113) I2 located in a generally horizontal plane and provided with a plurality of coupling pin holes M. A tongue l6 of an implement or other trailing device is provided with the usual bifurcated coupling device I8 provided with coupling pin holes 20. The tongue also i provided with a ring 22 or other means which may be engagedby ahook to lift the tongue oif the ground.

The tool of the present invention comprises a generally Z-shaped assembly 24. This comprises a rigid bell-crank having along vertical leg 26 andv a shorter laterallyprojecting leg 28.

gether with a gusset 30. At the angle between the legs 26 and 28 there is provided a fulcrum pin 32 which may be engaged with any of the holes H with a wide rangeangular movement of the bell-- vided with a cant-hook 36.

In order to easily and completely effect the coupling operation from the tractor'seat, I preferv to provide a second tool 38 for holding a coupling.

pin 40. The tool 38 comprises a tube" and a flange 44 at its upper end. Inside the tube 42v is a multi-prongedgrappling hook 46 ,which is urged upwardly by spring 48 and has a handle member 50 at its upper end. By pushing the handle 50 inwardly, the books 46 are opened to grasp the pin 40 and by releasing the handle the pin is engaged as shown.

In operation, the hand tool 24 is first utilized as shown in Figure l by inserting the hook 34 in the ring 22. Pin 32 is then inserted in one of the holes I4. The operator may then drive the tractor rearwardly while at the same time manipulating the handle 26 to lift the tongue I6 and hold it level with the draw-bar 12 so that the bifurcated portion I8 straddles the draw-bar. In so doing the operator has considerable leverage advantage by reason of the relation of links 26 and 28 and it is an easy matter to hold the tongue [6 suspended at the proper level while backing the draw-bar into the bifurcated portion. In so doing the bell-crank 24 is free to pivot in the horizontal plane if necessary. This operation will not, however, except accidentally, line up a hole 20 with one of the holes 14 and the cant-hook 36 then comes into play as follows. With the tongue resting on the drawbar the tool is removed from the draw-bar hole The two are rigidly Welded or otherwise secured to-" may be prohas provided a hand tool which enables heavy implement tongues to be easily held in position for backing a tractor into coupling relation with out requiring the operator .o f ithe'tractor to :get

off his seat and without requiring the assistance of a helper. This is accomplished by providing,

in effect, a lifting jack for the implementtongue which may be easily operated from the tractor seat. By enabling the tool to be mounted on the tractor with a universalifreedom of movement,

itriis possible to :nianipulate eboth the :tractor and th i implement .-:tongne; simultaneously in the maannenrequiredyto bring 'them into proper engagement. While the .tojolmayordinarilyfbeused as described; to .;merely elevate the implement tongue While the tractor :is :being manipulated, it,- is,,a1so possible with a lightimpl'ement .to pull. a hitch.

the implement forward, and to. effect without moving .the tractor.

. lflclaim-z LA hand tool forefiecting thecoupling between a tractor. and 'an implement comprising a bell-crank having. .a'ifulcrum pin insertable into a tractor draw-.bar .hole ;to support the bell-crank in'a;generally .vertical plane with a large degree of; angular. freedom "in the vertical plane and also ineaf horiznntal'plane means forming a hand gripatnone: end of one leg of the bell-crank and a: hook venga'geable :with an' implement tongue freely1-piyoted1:on:the other leg of the bell-crank.

22'A .hand tool ior effecting the coupling 'between-a tractor andan implement comprising a bell crankhaving -means engageab1e with atractor to support the bell-erarik in a generally vertical plane with :a large degree of angular freedom in -"the"vertical planeand also in a 'hori zontaltplane, means torming ahanizl grip at one end iof one leg of the. hell-crank and a hook engageaible with an implement tongue freely-pivo'ted o'ntheoth'er leg off-the bell-crank;

3. A hand tool for effecting the coupling between a tractor and an implement comprising a bell-crank having a fulcrum pin insertable into a tractor draw-bar hole to support the bell-crank in a generally vertical plane with a large degree of angular freedom in the vertical plane and also in a horizontal plane; the bell-crank having a long upwardly extending leg forming-a handle, the shorter leg extending laterally and having a hook pivotally suspended thereon and engageable with an implement tongue to lift the same by manipulation of the handle.

4. A hand tool for effecting the coupling between a tractor and an implement comprising a dbell-crank having means engageable with a tractor to support the bell-crank in a generally vertical :plane with a large degree of angular freedom in the vertical plane and also in a horizontal plane, the bell-crank having a long upwardly extending leg forming a handle, the shontemlegrextencling laterallyeand having a hook pivotally suspended thereon and:engageablewith animplement tongue to the sameby manipulationof theohanolle. 5

.5.- A hand tool for assistinga the operator ot-a Y vertically align an: a

tractor to horizontally and apertured' trailer atongueiwith :an apertured draw bar on the tractor while-remaining in-the tractor seat comprising :a..,bella crank: lev'e'r having means 'thereonofor."fu'lcruming said I lever onsa'id draw bar so. as to permit "a large degree of angular :movement ofssai'd lever in both a verti cal and horizontalgp'lane, saiid bell'wrarik also having :hook means thereon engageable with saidtongue whenesaid ib'e'llcrank' is manually-;manipu--- lated by. the operator-to move said tongue hori-' v zontally and vertically into :alignment wi tf'i saiddraw "bar to permit a draw pin-tobe interengage'd with said tongue and'drawbar-and thereby effect a coupling thereof.-

REFERENCES orr-ED 1 file of this patent: 7

UN TED} STATES PATENTS Date; ,c

LLOYD G J COPEMANi 

